B.C. keeping wildfire crews at home for now

The B.C. Wildfire Service is providing pumps and hoses to Alberta fire crews battling the forest fire threatening Fort McMurray, Alta., but aircraft and other equipment are busy with wildfires in northeast B.C.

Forests Minister Steve Thomson said Wednesday there are seven significant wildfires burning in the Peace region, with one burning six kilometres from the northern Alberta border. He said B.C. crews will continue working on that fire even if it crosses into Alberta, to allow their fire crews to focus on the Fort MacMurray situation.

B.C. Wildfire Service has four evacuation alerts in effect in the Peace region, including one for the Beaton Airport Road fire north of Fort St. John. That fire is mostly contained at an estimated size of 7,000 hectares.